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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Teach42’s last challenge is “So how to wrap up a project like this? I think the only proper way is to turn it over to the participants. So today’s challenge, final one in the series, is for you to choose your own adventure.”

First of all, I want to thank Teach42 for doing this wonderful adventure. I have learned so much by doing this and at first was hesitant to give it a try. I didn’t want to commit myself to doing this because once I start something, I don’t want to miss a day or give it up so I’m proud of myself for finishing this. I have also learned so much by reading other people’s blogs who have participated in this challenge because I have learned so many new things that makes my blog better. I share the responsibility of doing daily blog prompts for digital scrapbooking friends with 2 other people and we take turns every 3 months. I know how much time it takes to do this and how pressured you feel to get it posted on time so again, thank you!

My last adventure is to do this: I am going to comment on blog posts where I disagree with the author. I will do it in a nice respectful way and share my opinion. I have always believed the idea that “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” so if I disagree with the person, I tend to not say anything. The more I think about it, the more I realize that not agreeing with someone doesn’t mean that I’m being mean or hateful. That is part of the conversation that should go on. Sometimes I feel intimidated because someone will tell me that I may have missed the point that the author was trying to make. Yet, isn’t that what having a conversation is all about? Maybe the other person missed the point and not me. I reflected on my own posts and realized that I don’t mind if someone disagrees with me because they might convince me to change my position on something. If they can convince me, then maybe I need to change. In fact, I should have an open mind and be willing to change if it means something is better. When someone disagrees with me and then there is a debate, it really makes my post more interesting because I have stirred up a conversation. That also helps other people when they read my post which is why I started this blog in the first place. So, I plan to add more to conversations on blog posts that I read, not just the ones I agree with, but the ones I don’t agree with also.

Thank you to all of my readers who read this blog! You have helped me to continually grow and I hope that I have contributed to your life in some way also!

2 comments:

It is hard to disagree with a teacher or even give them an opposing viewpoint. That is a great challenge that you have chosen.

I find it especially hard to write posts about things that most people don't agree with--don't want to "offend" anyone. I find that too often teachers don't hear an opposing viewpoint and look at it as an opportunity to dive into an issue deeper, but tune out the opposing viewpoint as being too radical. I have had a post siting in my drafts for a week now too afraid to post--you have gotten me to think about actually putting it up. Let me go work on it some more...

Paul: I have that problem of writing posts that may offend some people. Sometimes I tell my hubby that I've done it now and wait for the pounding. I have decided to use the words I feel, or ...to me, which helps.